Fold line machine



Dec. 29, 1 936. B. LIEBQ VY lTZ El Ai. 1 3

V FOLD LINE MACHINE Filed May 15, 1936 3 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR Berg/0)? Z/eowii BY fldo/fi Moses.

A 4 EQM uf ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1936. B. LIEBOWITZ ET A1. 2,065,272

' FOLD LINE MACHVINE Filed May 15, 1956 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TEFL r il \I-IH 3 E 47 E 45 1 I. 36 I I 1936- B. LIEBOWITZ ET AL 2,066,272

FOLD LINE MACHINE Filed May 15, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLD LINE MACHINE New York Application May 15, 1936, Serial No. 79,895

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a fold line machine for forming fold lines in turned down collars and other articles of apparel made of a plurality of plies of fabric adhesively united together.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a simple and eificient machine having a flexible rotary probe for mechanically separating the plies along a narrow zone to form a flexible fold line; to provide a, machine which is capable of use on a high production basis; to provide novel means for feeding the work onto the probe; to provide a flexible mounting or support for the probe; and to provide means for automatically restoring the probe to its initial position after each operation.

These, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will appear from the following description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig, 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of the front end of the machine with a part broken away to show the feeding mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a collar and probe illustrating the manner of forming the fold line;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of the probe restoring mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view of the means for rotating the probe;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the work feeding mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line i i-J9 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmental side elevation showing a wetting device added to the machine.

Referring to the drawings, I is the base which may be mounted on legs 2 or on a table top. Secured to the base is a pedestal 3 on which is mounted a motor having a pulley 5. The pulley drives the belt 6 which in turn drives the pulley I mounted on the spindle 8 (see Fig. 8). The spindle rotates in a bearing 9 which is provided with oil holes Hi. The spindle may be formed with oil slinging contours I l and the bearing with recesses l2 to catch the oil, as is conventional in bearing design. The pulley l is fastened to the spindle 8 by means of a set screw [3. The spindle is hollow,as' shown, and carries a plug M at its rear end, which plug is provided with a set screw l5 extending through the pulley 1. By means of the plug [4 and set screw [5, the flexible probe I6 is concentrically fastened to, and rotated by, the spindle 8. The bearing 9 is fastened to the machine by means of the clampbracket l1 and the clamping screw l8. The spindle 8, together with the pulley 7, may be mounted to move endwise relative to the bearing 9, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 8, as required by the flexure of the probe.

The probe it is preferably made of straight piano wire or stainless steel wire having a high degree of resiliency. The leading end [9 of the probe'is preferably formed with a screw thread, as seen in Fig. 7, to assist in feeding the work onto the probe. In practice, we have found the thread may be satisfactorily made by winding a few turns of very fine steel wire around the end of the probe and then soldering the wire in place. The end of the probe may be slightly reduced so that; when the thread is applied, its diameter will not substantially exceed the diameter of the body of the probe.

20 is a supporting arm which extends forwardly from the pedestal 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Projecting laterally from the arm 20, at a point intermediate its ends, is a stud 2| upon which is rigidly mounted a bracket 22. A bolt 23 passes vertically through the bracket 22 to provide a pivot for the small arm 24 carried at the lower end of the bolt and extending rearwardly from the bracket. Pivotally secured to the rear end of the arm 24, by means of a pivot bolt 24, is a fork 25. Pivoted to this fork, as best seen in Fig. 5, is a cylindrical pin 26 having a transverse 35 hole through which the rotary probe I6 passes and by which the probe is supported at a point intermediate its length. Two collars 21-21 are carried by the probe, one at each side of the pin 26. These collars are fastened to the probe by means of set screws 28 and serve to transmit to the support any thrust which is put on, the probe. The collars 2'5 may be eliminated, in which event the thrust may be taken up in any conventional manner in the spindle 8 and bearing 9. The supporting means just described restrain the probe from vertical movement at the point of support, but permit of relatively large lateral displacement at said point and also permit angular flexure of the rotating probe in all directions with'the imposition of minimum stresses on said probe. Thus the probe may flex freely as required to form curved fold lines such as are usual in collars. It will be understood that while the collar is being probed, the leading end IQ of the 2' V 7 probe lies in the guideway or groove of the roller hereinafter described. The useful probing length extends from the leading end I9 approxi the drawings has the advantage of simplicity and convenience, but other structures may also be;

advantageously employed.

At the forward end of the arm 20 is a bracket 29, as best seen in Fig. 10. A small grooved roller 30 is mounted to turn freely on a pin 3| which 'pin is held in the bracket 29 by means of the set screw 32.

On referring to Fig. 1, it will'be seen that the supporting point 26 of the probe I6 is considerably higher than the bottom of the groove in. the roller 30 so that the probe assumes a curvilinear form approximately as indicated in the drawings. The downward flexing of the probe causes an upward elastic force which tends to keepthe leading end l9 of the probe in the groove or guideway of the roller 30. The extremity of the probe, as best seen in Fig. 3, extends forwardly of the axis of the roller 30 to facilitate entering the probe into the work.

'Below the roller 30 is a work-supporting or feed roller 33. The roller 33 may be covered with rubber if desired. The roller is mounted on a shaft 34 which is carried on the pivoted arm 35, the arm 35 being pivotally fastened to the base I by means of the bracket 36, pin 31, and bolts 38. A spring 39 coiled around the bolt 40 operates to press the arm 35 upward, the upward by the head of the bolt 40.

limit of said arm being adjustably determined The downward limit of the arm is adjustably determined by the head of the screw 4|. A slotted lug or block 42 is adjustably fastened to the arm 35 by means of the justed that when no work is betweenit and the' roller 30, the rollers will just clear each other, but when work, such as a collar, is placed between'them, the force of the spring 39 acting through the pivoted arm 35 will press the roller 33 and the workagainst the roller 30.

'Achain 46 isattached to the forward end of the arm'35 by means of a stud 41. The lower end of the chain 46 is connected to a foot treadle 48. Depression of this-treadle rocks the arm 35 about its pivot 31 and carries the plate 4|! and the roller 33 downward, thus creating a gap between the rollers 30 and 33 in which the work may be inserted.

The roller 33 may be mounted to rotate freely on its shaft 34 in which event reliance for feeding the work may be placed solely on the thread of the-end I9 of the probe. However, we have found that more reliable feeding and better guiding are obtained if the roller 33 is positively driven; Any suitable means may be employed for driving the feed roller either with a continuousor intermittent motion. Oneform of such mechanism shown in the drawings, in particular Figs. 1 and-4, comprises a chain 49 attached at one end to a foot treadle 50. The chain passes over a sprocket 5| rotatably supported in the block52 and over a second sprocket 53 wh ch is keyed to the shaft 34 carrying the roller 33. The other end of the chain is attached to a spring 54 which is secured to the floor at 55.

In the operation ofthe machine, both treadles 48 and 50 are depressed. This lowers the roller 33 away from the roller 30 and stretches the spring 54. The work or collar 56, is then positioned on the end of the probe. The treadle 43 is then released to cause the feed roller 33. to press the work against the roller 30 and immediately thereafter the treadle 50 is released to permit the spring 54 to pull the chain 49 and thereby rotate the feed roller 33 in a clockwise direction to feed the work onto the probe. The feeding speed of the roller .33 should be approximately 'the. same as the feeding speed of the threaded end IQ of the probe. The feeding speed of theroller 33 combined with the feeding pressure between the rollers 33 and 30 should not be so great as to cause buckling of the probe;

In Fig. 6 is shown a perspective iew, of the probe I6 entering the collar 56'. To facilitate entry of the probe, it is desirable to create an opening in the collar by a separate piercing operation rather than to make the probe itself sharp enough to do this. In forming a flexible fold line in a collar, the inner ply only, which is the uppermost ply while the collar is being probed, is separated from the lining; ;The opening for entry of the probe should therefore be formed only in the inner ply and-would not ex-' tend through the other plies of the collar. suitable piercing device may be employed for this purpose, which device may be attached to the machine as an appurtenant part. The opening formed by the piercing device is preferably, though not necessarily, made at or near the cen-- ter of the collar, in which event the collar is probed first towards one end and then towards the other. After the probing operation is completed, the treadle 48 is again depressed to release the work so that it may be pulled off the probe. In pulling the work off the probe, the probe is likely to become displaced from its position in the guideway or groove of the roller 30. To compensate for this, we provide means for automatically restoring the probe to its proper position in the event of such displacement. .These' means comprise a thin curved bifurcated plate 51, best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and '7. The plate 51 has ears 58, by means of which it is pivotally secured to the shaft 3|. 59 is a slot in'th'e plate through which the probe [6 normally passes when its end I9 is in the groove of the roller 30. The plate has an upturned end 60 that abuts against a screw 6| to limit adjustably its downward movement. When a collar 56 is placed on the probe, the plate 51 rests loosely on the upper surface of the collar, as shown in full lines in Fig. 9. However, when the work is rapidly pulled off the probe, after the probing operation, the end IQ of the probe l6 tends to whip out of the groove, as shown by the full lines in Fig. '1. When the work is removed, the plate 51 drops down by gravity against the probe, as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 9, and directs the end of the probe back into the groove in proper position for a succeeding probing operation, because of the form and weight of the plate.

To give the probe greater lateral stability, a

spring 62 may be provided having one end fas- Any tened to an end of the arm 24 and having its other end held by a rod 63.

In many instances it is found desirable to wet the work with water along the zone to be probed.

To accomplish this, the machine may be equipped with a nozzle 64, shown in Fig. 11, mounted just ahead of the grooved roller and supplied with water through a tube 65. The flow of the water may be controlled by cocks or valves 66 and 61 and may be so arranged that water will flow from the nozzle only when the work is being fed onto the probe.

The plate 44 acts as a support to direct the work onto the probe. For feeding some articles, the angle of the plate should be adjusted. The slotted block 42 on which the plate 44 is mounted permits of such adjustments, In certain cases, however, as when feeding mesh fabrics, the work should be fed at a rather steep angle. To permit of this, we provide a U-shaped wire rod 68, shown in Figs. 9 and 10, which spans the front end of the slot 45 and is detachably secured in the holes in the plate 44.

This invention relates to improvements in the type of fold line machine having a rotary flexible probe, shown and described in a copending application, Serial No. 54,801, filed by Benjamin Liebowitz.

Various modifications in the details of construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described may be made within the scope of the invention.

What we claim is:-

1. In a fold line machine, a resilient rotary probe, a guideway in which the leading end of the probe normally lies, and means for restoring said end into the guideway in the event of dislodgment therefrom.

2. In a fold line machine, a resilient rotary probe, a guideway in which the leading end of the probe normally lies, and gravity-operated means for restoring said end into the guideway in the event of dislodgment therefrom.

3. In a fold line machine, a resilient rotary probe, a circumferentially grooved roller support ed above the leading end of the probe and in the groove of which roller said end of the probe is guided, and means for restoring said end into the groove in the event of dislodgment therefrom.

4. In a fold line machine, a resilient rotary probe, a guideway in which the leading end of the probe is normally guided, and means including a pivotally mounted bifurcated curved plate for restoring said end of the probe into the guideway in the event of its dislodgment therefrom.

5. In a fold line machine, a resilient rotary probe, a guideway in which the leading end of the probe is guided, said probe being normally flexed so that its leading end presses resiliently against the guideway.

6. In a fold line machine, a resilient rotary probe, supported at a point intermediate its ends, a guideway in which the leading end of the probe is guided, said probe being normally flexed from its point of support so that its leading and presses resiliently against the guideway.

7. In a fold line machine, a resilient rotary probe, means for guiding the leading end of said probe, and means for supporting the probe against vertical displacement, said supporting means permitting lateral displacement at the point of support.

8; In a fold line machine, a resilient probe, means forguiding the leading end of said probe, means for supporting the probe against vertical displacement, said means permitting lateral displacement at the point of support and angular movement of the probe in all directions, and flexible means for rotating the probe.

9. In a fold line machine, a resilient probe, means for engaging one end of the probe and rotating the probe, and means for supporting said probe against vertical displacement at a point intermediate its ends, said supporting means permitting lateral displacement at the point of support and angular movement of the probe in any direction.

10. In a fold line machine, a resilient probe, means for engaging one end of the probe and rotating the probe, means for supporting the probe against vertical displacement at a point intermediate its ends, said supporting means permitting lateral displacement at the point of sup port and angular movement of the probe inany direction, and a guideway in which the leading end of the probe normally lies.

11. In a fold line machine, a resilient probe, means for engaging one end of the probe and rotating the probe, means for supporting said probe against vertical displacement at a point intermediate its ends, said supporting means permitting lateral displacement at the point of support and angular movement of the probe in any direction, a guideway in which the leading end of the probe normally lies, and means for restoring said end into the guideway in the event of dislodgment therefrom.

12. In a fold line machine, a resilient probe, means for engaging one end of the probe and rotating the probe, means for supporting said probe against vertical displacement at a point intermediate its ends, said supporting means permitting lateral displacement at the point of support and angular movement of the probe in any direction, a guideway in which the leading end of the probe normally lies, said probe being flexed from its point of support so as normally to press resiliently against the guideway, and means for restoring the leading end of the probe into the guideway in the event of dislodgement therefrom.

BENJAMIN LIEBOWITZ. ADOLPH MOSES. 

